What fun! I wonder if I could get something like this to happen around here. I'll have to ask at church...Is Meinseer's a fabric store? We would have to do ours at our church and everyone bring all their needs for the evening. I think that would be so much fun and connect people at least once a month. Thanks for the great idea!!

Wow she is a cutie for sure! I love the 3/4 sized machines! Thank you for posting a photo. Cathy, you should go to the Photo Album here and post a few of these really neat machines for all of us to see. We started the photo album so we could all see the different machines without having to go through tons of text to find them! Always post photos here too, but the Vintage Photo shop here is a great place to go to if you want to drool over machines!

Nancy

Betty seems to give me a work out no matter what I am doing, but Cathy I think the reason I really notice that treadle's workout is because I only use her to put bindings on very large quilts. That means when I am using that treadle I am sitting for a long time tugging and straightening a lot of quilt all the while treadling. I usually have to go around each quilt twice because I have never got Betty to stay consistent in her stitch. She sews consistent with a nice stitch when doing only 2 layers, but when I have a binding to attach and I am going through 7 layers, she zips through those layers like butter, but her stitch gets really funky, hence I always go around twice. The plus side is that because she walks the quilt, I never get bunched fabric or tucks! That is the only reason I keep using her to put on bindings, even though I have to go twice to get a tight stitch.

Nancy

Yes Randa, Meissners is a quilt/fabric/they sell machines, and vacuums too store. They have a very large classroom. There have been times we had 20 + people in there on Girls Night Out, but we usually have about a dozen as Kathie said. We do a pot luck with no organization so we get all kinds of food and goodies. We all bring our own projects and machines. We eat, laugh, and sew - tons of fun! Lots of us met through Girls Night Out and have become great friends. So yes, it is a great way to connect with people once a month!

Nancy

I am excited! I have a riding clinic this morning, then I pick up my mocha 301 this afternoon from Cathy, then on to Girls Night Out! What a nice day this will be! Cathy, I am planning on using the 301 tonight - at least to play with her! Do they take the same low shank foot as the feather weight. I have an extra 1/4" foot I will bring to use. Also I think they use the same bobbins? This will be my first 301!

Nancy

Nancy the 301's use the same bobbons as fw but they are slant shank and the fw feet won't work on it.

Actually, I just thought about it and I am only going through 5 layers when I put the bindings on. The quilt top, back, batting, and a folded binding.

Nancy, Get a walking foot that has been modified to fit a 301 and it will do your bindings just fine - Cathy will know what you need.

I used a hammer and a small nail for years, but finally gave in and bought treadle pliers. With the number of treadles I have run through around here, it was a great investment.

Oh, yeah--I have 3 or 4 of these because I love the dragon decal!! I actually have one (at least one) with a hand crank, but I have absolutely no idea where it is right now.